I believe we are allowed to make fun of Willy Taveras and Jeff Cirillo though aren't we?

1 Also Jeff Kent, Peter Angelos, Bill Wirtz (nope, it's not too soon) and Paul O'Neill.

Where does Mike Hampton fit into all this?

Yeah, and what about Denny Neagle?

I wish the Rockies the best of luck tonight...I quietly started pulling for them after they swept the Dodgers in the doubleheader (and series) a couple weeks back--at that point I knew L.A. was dead in the water and I thought it would be pretty neat to see the Rockies continue winning and get the wildcard berth. And besides, do we really want to see another first round playoff loss by the padres?

Funny, I started rooting against the Rockies after that nasty series against the Yankees. (Nasty only in the results, I mean. For the Yankees.)
But I've come around. Good story, interesting team... and of course, Toaster Camaraderie. Go Rocks!

I used to live in SD. Great baseball fans down there. But there's something about this Rockies team that draws my interest. Plus, playoff game(s) in COL are full of potential.

Sounds like LoDo is starting to get excited this afternoon (looking on the RM News website)...makes me miss my hometown (again!).

GO ROX!!!

As a fan of the underdog, I'm totally rooting for the Rockies in this game (having previously had no particular allegiances to either team). Is the game going to be on any national TV outlet? Extra Innings doesn't seem to be carrying the game (f***ers).

TBS.

I'm hoping that since I set my direct tv Tivo before I left for work it will record OK (I have a late meeting). The game wasn't in the guide so I just set it on TBS and selected the shows they had scheduled starting at 4:30 (pacific time). That meeting's going to suck. lol

9 Thanks! I mean, me too.

I sent this to Bob T. earlier today but of course, individual stats mean nothing but today's game does count for the regular season so for those who care, Matt Holliday can go 0-4 today and he will still win the batting title over Chipper Jones.

If he gets a hit, then no problem at all.

I believe if Jake Peavy strikes out 5 or more, he will lead the majors in strike outs.

And he is going for win number 20, which I think would be the first NL pitcher to reach that mark in two years.

I think it'd be cool to see the Rockies get in. There's no reason they couldn't make it all the way, and wouldn't that be a story?

In 2005, 3 pitchers in the NL won 20 games: Willis, Carpenter, and Oswalt.

Only 2 Padre pitchers have had 20-win seasons: Randy Jones, 20 in 1975 and 22 in 1976, and Gaylord Perry won 21 in 1978.

Peavy and Maddux are the only pitchers on the Padres with 10+ wins. Francis and Fogg are the only pitchers with 10+ wins on the Rockies.

The Washington Nationals had no pitcher win 10 games nor a pitcher lose 10 this season! That had never happened before. Jon Rauch led with 8 wins and Matt Chico led with 9 losses.

Josh " The Dragon Slayer " Fogg representing all hope for Rocks fans around the world.

I was just checking & Peavy is pitching on normal rest. I don't know but I always feel he expands a lot of energy with his motion, the Rox better pray he's a little fatigued during this long season or else it's "wait till next year" time for them as well. This game definitely has an underdog feeling to it which will make me a Rox fan tonight.

Padres:
B. Giles RF
Hairston LF
Kouzmanoff 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Greene SS
Bard C
Blum 2B
Clark CF
Peavy P

Rockies:
Matsui 2B
Tulowitzki SS
Holliday LF
Helton 1B
Atkins 3B
Hawpe RF
Spilborghs CF
Torrealba C
Fogg P

The Rockies have a nice looking lineup. It reminds me of the Cardinals in '04, but with younger and lesser known kids. Here's hoping they get to Peavy.

The DodgerSims Simulator gives the Rockies a 50.65% win expectancy, while the Las Vegas Hilton gives them only 42.55%. The simulator plays 2000 games pitting the same two teams with the same lineups.
Good luck!
vr, Xei

Does anyone know if there's a radio station in the LA area that will be carrying this game?

It will be on ESPN radio, so my guess is, 710 AM for the Greater LA area.

20

So it's basically a toss up I guess. I don't know man, but when Peavy is on (extra adrenaline tonight one would imagine) he can absolutely be SICK hopefully there 1st base coach goes all Mariano Duncan on Peavy...

If Bad Altitude is now taking baseless predictions, I will assert that the Rockies will win tonight 9-2.

It just feels so right.

23. Great pitching against great hitting, mediocre pitching against mediocre hitting. I think the rule of thumb is that mediocre pitching will always beat mediocre hitting.
Or something totally different than that. :)
Enjoy the game.
vr, Xei

I just hope that nobody gave Josh Fogg a copy of "The Denny Galehouse Story" to read.

That Padres lineup would look a lot better with Mike Cameron and Milton Bradley in it - oh, wait.

It is hard to believe that the four NL playoff managers will be Charlie Manuel, Bob Melvin, Lou Pinella and, possibly, Clint Hurdle.

I adopted the Rockies as my backup team this year out of guilt for how poorly my fellow Met fans treated Kaz Matsui and out of admiration for Troy Tulowitzski's arm. Go Rockies!

I like the Rockies' line-up and am rooting for them, but with Peavy pitching I'm going to predict, against my will, a 4-2 final for Padres.

Hope I'm wrong!

All time record
Colorado 117
San Diego 113

Kouzmanoff had an OPS of 1.031 in September.

Fogg with 2 k's!

32 And did you see the grin on his face? Priceless.

Actually the Rockies have so much more momentum than the Pads, I should just pick the team with momentum. Okay, 4-2 Rockies instead.

28

He's got a good one but he also MAXIMIZES (maximum effort I guess) his throws all the time I wouldn't suggest that if I were his coach or dad...

I'll confess that I was hoping to see Taveras as a pinch-runner, but I don't think he's activated...

Doubling on a groundball to centerfield is not easy.

Nice start.

37
Except in Denver.

Or when Juan Pierre plays center.

Well, I'll be happy for the Rockies if they win. I felt for most of the year that they were underachieving, and it was nice to see them finally put it together.

39
Or when Juan Pierre plays center in Denver, which will hopefully happen more than 81 times next year.

Balsley's last name is bagging for jokes... (JoeyP were are though)

41
The Rockies used to have BOTH Juan Pierre AND Tom Goodwin in the outfield.

Scary thought.

Wow, I will never questin XeiFranks machine EVER again...

43

Davey Johnson would have had a stroke if he were the Denver skipper.

Rockies are already halfway toward my flip-flopped predicted score!

I just discovered that the game is on TV. My TV listings showed "Everybody Loves Raymond".

Somehow I doubt 2-0 holds up in this ballpark.

I called my friend in Colorado to tell him the score.

He's running out to buy a TV now.

Tell him to pick up some soap and a razor when he's out. :)

Which one of these pitchers is the Cy Young candidate?

50 ... for his girlfiend.

Which one of these pitchers is the Cy Young candidate?

The one with the (really bad) offense.

It's the battle of eight-letter in total guys who are named Josh!

51 Candidate?

Who the hell is competing with him?

uuuhh, great hit by Josh Bard (nice little battle there also with the pitcher)

54 Fair is foul, and foul is fair: hover through the Fogg and thin air.

Beware the World Series Hero.

Or maybe not.

you know it's not that far fetched that Josh Fogg can throw a shut out against the Pads knowing there poor offense...

The Padres scored more runs per game this year than Arizona.

Well, I guess this is sort of the playoffs. We should have expected a Peavy choke.

Mark T.R Donohue is probably high 5ing a buddy right about know...

Yorvit!

If Yorvit Torrealba can homer off of Peavy, this is definitely the Rockies' run.

55 Brandon Webb is probably the only other guy near him. Penny was another candidate but he had some bad starts the final month.

Jake Peavy's pitches seem to be up early in the game, Torrealba's tater was hung by Peavy thats for sure.

66

with any luck Brad Penny could have won at least 1 or 2 more games but like you said, he ran a little out of steam in the end.

Penny ran out of steam a lot later than he usually does.

This one could quickly get competitive again in a matter of moments...

Woah. I just came back to the game to see the grand slam. Ouch.

4-3 Pads on a Gonzalez Granny, not good.

Do not go gentle into that good night;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Oh yeah, Josh Fogg is pitching.

71
Aren't you happy?

Josh Fogg is exactly who we thought he was!

As I was saying...

Thanks to Bob, we know that the record for total runs scored in a tiebreaker game is 15. Second game of the 1962 tiebreaker.

With 8 runs in 2 and a half innings, that has a chance to fall.

Game 2 of the 1962 tiebreaker also was the longest 9-inning game in major league history for quite a while.

And it was a day game in L.A. And it was reportedly very hot and very smoggy.

Judging from Jake Peavys 1st inning performance, it's still a toes up no?

Aren't you happy?

I'm conflicted. I was rooting for the Padres because of Depo, but I wasn't really rooting for them over the Rockies. I was rooting for them over the NL East teams.

Toes up!

The winner of this game decides if the NL Wild Card Division will be called the Tony Gwynn or the Todd Helton.

Helton helps his own cause.

The NL West is now the Andy Tracy Division.

Slim pickings for players who spent their entire career with Arizona.

Excuse me, Chad Tracy Division.

80 Apparently, yep.

Did they turn down the humidor a little bit?

It's turn back the clock (pre-humidor) night at Coors Field, apparently, too.

D'oh! 10 seconds too late.

Was Morales up in the pen? He can be long relief on three-days rest, eh?

if the friars were at full strength, i'd be pulling for them ... but as i figure they're no match for anybody they play at this point (let alone the phightin' phils), i'm pulling for rockies ... long live baseball at altitude!

90
Good point. Rockies-Phillies should be much more exciting than Padres-Phillies.

90-I'd be pulling for the Friars if they weren't nicknamed the Friars.

Pretty funny.

92 yes, but would you root for them if they were nicknamed "The Fryers"???

mmm, the fryers ...

87

I'm nostalgic so I could of dig it...

Fogg looked good in the fourth but I'd be going to the 'pen for the fifth if I were the manager.

Looks like Gonzalez has Josh Foggs #...

The tough thing about games like this is that one team has to lose.

Spicoli pops out to shallow right.

Gonzalez's grand slam put him at exactly 30 HR & 100 RBI. He already had 100 runs. Adrian became only the 4th Padre to have 30/100/100 in a season:

Player, Year (HR/R/RBI)
Caminiti, 1996 (40/109/130)
Vaughn, 1998 (50/112/119)
Klesko, 2001 (30/105/113)
Gonzalez, 2007 (30/101/100 so far)

These 4 players are also the only Padres in history to have 100 runs & RBI (no HR threshold).

If you're going to pull Fogg because the first guy reaches, why let him bat with one out in the previous 1/2 inning?

Who's announcing? There's a lot of dead air.

That was a nice effort by Clark. I actually liked when the Dodgers acquired him; I thought he would be a nice 4th OF for them, but it didn't work out.

that M-V-P chant was awesome ... way to hit, holly!

101 That decision was a Little curious.

I hated Greg Vaughn.

According to Gameday, strike three was about a foot outside.

100

that's pretty crazy, I though this was a playoff game!?

This is a good game. Too bad it took me this long to realize I could watch it via MLBTV here at work.

I had no idea TBS showed "The Office."

102 and that's a bad thing??? i'd go for a feed that was just stadium and crowd noise, no announcers at all ...

110-I had no idea they showed Family Guy back to back either.

108 Nope, tiebreakers are regular season games.

Is this a Grady-like ploy to get Peavy 20 wins at the expense of possibly getting into the playoffs????

108 This is game 163 of the regular season. Good luck to anyone breaking Maury Wills' record of 165 games played in 1962.

106 I like Vaughn, if only because I drafted him in my fantasy baseball league that year for $1, and before the pick I announced "this is the pick of the draft."

The announcers are Don Orsillo and Joe Simpson.

I wonder what Orsillo knows about the NL West. I'm guessing very little.

Bad move on catching the ball. Why not let the ball drop and possibly turn two or at least force Peavy to be the runner there should it somehow take a weird hop back into fair territory?

I wish this game would have counted towards fantasy baseball.

Good luck to anyone breaking Maury Wills' record of 165 games played in 1962

"Ooh! Ooh! Let me try! Ooh!"

http://tinyurl.com/2rctfc

110

That's syndication territory no? (nation wide channel etc..) but I'm not a t.v. noeth...

100 -113

let it be known that Gonzalez did not hit his 30/100/100 in 162 games.

121
Correct. This is Gonzales's 161st game of the year.

Let the record reflect that the Padres combo of sand-colored shirts and sand-colored pants look bad.

I assume they had to do that because the Rockies are wearing black shirts.

At least the Rockies aren't wearing purple.

119 The more games he plays in, the better chance he has to rack up hits, and the greater his chances for the Hall of Fame, which I want to happen, because I believe in the destruction of all things good and holy.

So, yes: 166 games for Juan Pierre! Hell, 170 games! Rack 'em up!

I just looked up Orsillo, since I'd never heard of him.

What does he know of the National League period, much less the NL West? Is he even aware there's baseball west of NY?

119 I'd be OK with that, as that would mean the Dodgers would at least have a shot at the playoffs, with some weird hybrid tiebreakers for both the wild card and division that we almost had this year.

There's no purple in baseball.

At least, there shouldn't be.

122

D'oh...

126
There is the odd chance that a team could have three tie games, but changes in the rules have made ties nearly impossible.

127
Nor steel prints on shoulder pads or puke green uniforms in football.

115- I kind of did that with Matt Holliday this year.

123 I don't really like any Padre uniforms, especially the camouflage. I suppose the home whites (tops and bottoms) are acceptable though. They should just go back to the brown and mustard.

Orsillo I believe won the Essex County Sean McDonough Sound Alike Contest™.

115- besides the dollar flier thing.

What's with all the pitching changes this inning? Do both teams still have 40-man rosters for this game?

79 Giants vs Dodgers playoff game: Oct 2, 1962, 4 hrs, 18 minutes for a 9-inning playoff game. I remember listening to the game on my transistor radio long after my 5th grade class had been let out for the day. Don't remember how hot it was (I was just a few miles away from Dodger Stadium at the time, in a school near Echo Park) but every day was smoggy back in those days. We used to return from recess coughing.

The Red Sox did have series against both San Diego and Colorado this year, so at least Orsillo saw some of the players. But San Diego's roster has really turned over since the Red Sox last played them.

Jose Cruz batted leadoff for the Padres in one of the games against the Red Sox. And Russell Branyan was in left.

132

I'm o.k with the mustard colored ones specially on turn the clock nights, they look pretty cool.

Ah, apparently we're into the "Pitchers I've never heard of" section of the game. Yes, you can take your East Coast Bias rants out on me.

127 The NY Giants used purple in their uniform some season in the 1910s.

I like the purple used to trim the home whites and road grays. A solid purple jersey is a horrendous idea.

134 It's a regular-season game after Sept. 1, so I'd assume expanded rosters still apply.

The purples used by the DBacks and Rockies scream "expansion team"

140 ... until Timmermann tells me I'm wrong.

Torrealba Plays the Game the Right Way

Didn't the scouting reports say that Kouzmanoff was a terrible defender?

Head first slide into first... {no comment}

141 When you get to the 29-32 teams in baseball, what colors are left?

What was Brady Clark doing there?

I've never heard of Seth Smith until today.

I wonder if the ChiSox ever wear the horrid shorts during turn the clock nights/days, oh man...

ps check it out [ http://www.mopupduty.com/whitesox1976a.jpg ]

Seth Smith... ?

The historical LA Times said that 10/2/1962 had temps in the high 70s and low 80s, but the smog was listed as "moderate to heavy."

That must have been awful. Few people realize how much smog has been reduced in the Southern California area.

Denver is just as smoggy as L.A. now.

I've never seen Seth Smith hit a triple until today.

149 man, those shorts aren't even as bad as those horrible shirts ... wow

you rock on, seth smith!

Awful, Brady Clark. Awful.

Seth Smith (24), Minor League Career:

1768 AB .311/.372/.504

That was his first major league extra base hit.

Seth Smith finishes his 2007 major league season with a .625 batting average.

This is not Brady Clark's best inning of defense.

Maybe those are tough plays, but Brady Clark looks silly out there.

3 awful plays in a row....

Brady Clark is an adventure

132 I knew there was somebody Orsillo sounded like.

Brady Clark = Rockies MVP

Man do the Pads miss Mike Cameron.

155 2004 2nd round pick of the Rockies, from Ole Miss.

Mike Cameron is missed quite a bit today isn't he?

159
OK, so maybe the Dodgers were better off with Juan Pierre in center.

Darnit, I'm just a step too slow today!

Okay, I'm leaving work. Good luck!

damn, not a good night to be brady clark ...

166 Juan Pierre probably makes either the first or third play, but no way he throws out Seth Smith or catches both balls.

Seth Smith is the seventh player since 1901 to finish a major league season batting .625.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/Eykz

The last one was Mike Morgan.

163 According to the radio announcers, Smith was a QB at Ole Miss too. He was Eli Manning's backup.

holy crap, ANOTHER ball to brady clark ... man, now i just feel bad

Now it's time for LaTroy "Screaming Line Drive" Hawkins.

LaTroy Hawkins...

Time to be afraid.

I feel bad for not knowing who Seth Smith was. I generally follow prospects, especially fellow NL West clubs. I forget which ignorant announcing crew I ripped for saying of Tony Abreu "whoever that is", but that's how I feel about not knowing Seth Smith.

I wonder if Bernie Williams is watching this game.

172 One of the best nicknames ever.

172 You just think I don't get that reference, don't you?

http://tinyurl.com/2tfcy6

151 Thanks to the catalytic converter. Unfortunately, it was developed too late to prevent millions of boomers from developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the next decade. Nonetheless, nothing I breathed in L.A. during the 50s-60s was as bad as what I inhaled in Beijing last year. Hope the Chinese can clean up their act before the 2008 Olympics.

Meanwhile, what a great game!

Colored alert for Gonzalez

According to USA Today, Orsillo and Simspon will head to Philadelphia after this game to broadcast that series which will involve the winner of this game.

Dick Stockton and Ron Darling (a late addition) will do the Arizona-Chicago series.

Ted Robinson and Steve Stone will work the Angels-Red Sox series.

Chip Caray, Bob Brenly, and Tony Gwynn will work the Yankees-Indians series.

Oh Tulowitz! I guess it's decided, I'm a rocks fan in this.

I forget which ignorant announcing crew I ripped for saying of Tony Abreu "whoever that is"

Somebody that gets paid to know that stuff said that!!?? as a baseball viewer I would have been insulted by that (depending on the mood I was in, of course)

Yellow alert for Adrian Gonzalez!

He's had three triples this year.

No Padre has ever hit for the cycle.

181 Yeah, I concluded that I was rooting for them pretty quickly. I'm not sure whether it's "they took us out of it with those seven games late, so they earned it," or whether it's "I can't root for the Padres."

Is Dick Stockton any good with baseball? I generally like him with basketball.

"Let the record state that Adrian Gonzalez did not hit for the cycle in 162 games"

182 It was the Rockies announcers, I remember. I can't remember if it was Drew Goodman or George Frazier though.

The Padres will get the top of the order up in the 9th.

Unless they get a lot of guys on in the 8th. And I've seen the Padres come up with a few late-inning rallies.

The Padres have won 10 games when trailing going to the 8th and 7 when trailing when heading to the 9th.

185
I don't think I am going to like Stockton doing baseball.

185
Dick Stockton did a nice call of Fisk's home run in the 1975 World Series, but he hasn't called baseball in a long time.

185 Stockton used to be good (or decent, I guess) at baseball, but I think he's just slow these days.

His call of Fisk's 1975 WS HR was pretty low key -- "If it stays fair...home run."

I'm sure the TBS announcing search was from a combination of talent and availability, mostly the latter.

188 If the Rockies get to the 9th with a lead, they are in good shape with Corpas.

That looked like a HR

U-C-L-A

No carbohydrates were consumed in the ripping of that line drive!

If the ball has to clear the yellow line to be a HR (as opposed to just hitting it), what is the point of making the line yellow?

Looked like it went clean over the yellow to me.

Clint Hurdle's face is turning purple.

more good work by blue ... and WTF? is up with this announcing team, that was SO CLEARLY a homerun

196 I was wondering the same

Who are these? Padres announcers? That was a homer.

Padres hoping for the lonesome death of Jamey Carroll on the bases.

187

He was probably jealous cause we have a SICK farm system, although there young'uns aren't to shaby either, I'm still a little annoyed he said that though, not cool, SPECIALLY for a paid professional!

Isn't the yellow line padded? Methinks the ball bounced off of something metallic, for it to come back to the field like that.

Poor Ryan Spilborghs. Make them pay.

202
Is William Zantzinger coming in to relieve?

204 Radio announcer said it bounced off of a wheelchair in the first row.

191

I thought Steve Lyons was going to have playoff games with TBS as well? (that's what I remember somebody saying)

Do BBWAA voters get an extra day to turn in their award votes, or is the deadline generally the day before the playoffs start anyway?

Regardless of his performance today, Peavy should win the CYA anyway. I'm just saying.

204 seemed to bounce off a wheelchair that was parked just behind the fence ...

1-run lead, bottom of the 7th is a little earlier for the PR/def. replacement. If the Pads forge ahead, Carroll (or PH) could be hitting instead of Atkins in the 9th.

Michael Barrett in.

Who does he attack?

211 I agree. Atkins's bat is too important in a close game.

208 Maybe Lyons is who Darling is replacing. Maybe TBS didn't want the combustible Lyons/Piniella combo that resulted in his national ousting last year!

Peavy pitched like a mere human today, I dig it.

209 More relevant is the discussion of the NL MVP with this game- I think he's locked it up, Home/Road splits be damned. Chipper Jones leads in OPS+, Miguel Cabrera in Win Shares, Albert Pujols in Runs Created. But among the playoff teams (clearly what matters to the BBWAA), it's gotta be Holliday or Rollins.

215 Peavy pitched like playoff Peavy

I believe the fence has a yellow pad at the top to provide contrast between it and the seats.

The seats behind it are green and the fence is predominantly green as well.

I think the tipoff that the ball didn't cross the fence was the fact that you could see a woman in a wheelchair making the universal "darn it!" symbol when the ball bounced back.

218 She could have been darning that the ball bounced back on to the field.

218 The contrast makes sense. Thanks Bob.

Peavy didn't give up a big inning, but he only pitched one, full, scoreless inning.

They should have hit for him in the 6th.

Peavy still won the pitcher's Triple Crown and by a fairly wide margin. He should win the Cy Young Award easily.

The MVP vote is going to be very close in the NL.

I assume it will be either Rollins or Holliday.

I remember when David Wright was a candidate. I remember it like it was just two weeks ago.

209 I doubt Holliday has it wrapped up. East coast writers will break for Rollins.

219 or that she didn't get the great souvenir.

come on Torrealba pull the trigger...

Seriously, who do these announcers belong to.

206 Take the rag away from your face, Padre fans. For now ain't the time for your tears.

I am not going to be able to deal with Dane Cook during these playoffs.

226
Orsillo - Red Sox
Simpson - Braves

218 i believe that's actually the "i brought my glove to a game and i'm 43 and i have like teh awesome seats and now somebody's hit this homerun right too me and i can't even bother reaching over to the next seat and catching it and now my team is being robbed of a homerun" gesture

230
Perhaps that's the Colorado dialect.

230

I missed a couple of innings, the visual sounds priceless!

Well, that wasn't a very flattering cross section of Rocky fans

230 Omar Daal approves of your name.

man, Fuentes can look flat out sick some times, that last pitched was a thing of beauty.

I know it's Coors Field and all, but that situation screamed bunt.

-8th inning
-down one run
-Brady Clark batting

Barrett to follow, with the top of the order coming up after him.

Looks like Adrian Gonzalez is assured of a shot in the 9th...

237 Unless Blum is CS at third! or some such thing.

Wow, that was terrible.

oh my god! come on Holliday!

Well that wasn't very MVPish

Certainly not a defensive MVP!!!

Wow. There goes the MVP.

236 Not a big fan of that strategy on the road.

Jimmy Rollins clears off some shelf space after that play.

Who was it that had the irrational hatred of the Giles brothers?

That's a double???

I assume that the ball came of Giles's bat with a funny sound. It didn't sound like it would carry as far as it would.

246
Raises hand.

246

Vishal hates all things Giles Elder if I remember correctly

Holiday's Howler© or Matt's Misjudgment®?

Just to cut off Bob T at the pass:

There has never been a one game playoff that went to extra innings.

Darn-is Holiday one of those "good hitting" outfielders, or am I mistreating him?

248

not to make excuses for Holliday but it probably also had some tailing action on it also.

I just had visions of the proposal by some pundits of moving Juan Pierre to LF. Blecch.

Now this screams bunt.

Matsui uses the Denver chop.

The Rockies led the majors in sacrifices this year with 83.

Orange alert for Tulowitzki!

Matsui is an excellent Baltimore Chopper. That doesn't show in his OPS. Take that, statheads.

Heath Bell is trying to catch Joe Beimel in pitcher assists.

257 Thanks, I was wondering about that and I was about to call Thief River Falls.

And what is the explanation for the Rockies' extreme use of that tactic?

Greg Maddux led the majors in pitcher assists this year.

He had 51. Brandon Webb had 50.

I've heard Cal Ripken plays mad hoops.

262
Living on the East Coast, you are spared from excessive exposure to the mysterious managerial machinations of Clint Hurdle.

Clint loves sacrifices.

262 The pitchers had 46 of them. I think that's pretty high.

263 I just looked that up too. Maddux is amazing, leading the majors in assists in only 193 IP.

Heath Bell is now at 17 assists, 5 behind Beimel's 22 (in only 67 IP!).

Oh, those Patriots. Sorry, but I often have to hear about west coast FB, and even BB!!

Wow I never thought Cal R. would start to look like Uncle Fester. Must be a bald thing.

Damn, that was nice.

Saul Rivera of Washington led relief pitchers in assists with 26. Joe Beimel was second with 22.

How close is Tulowitzki going to make the race for ROY with Braun?

How close is Tulowitzki going to make the race for ROY with Braun?

Ah. So, it's maybe 265 some overuse, but 266 also skill?

Should have kept in Atkins.

It's walk-off time.

In 2006, Sullivan and Barmes each had 19 sacrifices, tied for second in the NL behind Oswalt.

If so, I'd expect it to be Hawpe -- though I seem to remember Helton connecting on one not long ago (gulp).

273
The Rockies do bunt well. Except for Matsui, who is supposed to be a great bunter because he's Japanese.

They like to destroy stereotypes.

Every time I see Torrealba's name, I think, "Derek Jeter must like him a lot."

Speaking of East Coast perspectives.

Helton, walk off homer on the third pitch.

276 What else can you do with a guy who put up a .264 OBP that year (Barmes)?

Wow, Bell is still out there.

Black must have no faith in Brocail or Kevin Cameron.

Bell looks like = Wells.

274 as called in 211

how many innings did they trot out Bell?

there trying to bust a Eric Gagne surca a few years a go.

280 Nope. Pay up, mehmattski.

Bell has given up just three homers this year: Griffey, Tracy, and Berkman. All of them in San Diego.

286 I have sorely underestimated Heath Bell. They should name a candy bar after him or something.

283

I've always felt he looks more like what Broxton would look like if he were to lose a few.

hawpe, hawpe!

288 Hmmmmmm.
Yeah, they could put it in ice cream. Yeah, that would be a good flavor.
Coffee Bell Crunch.

I have never been to a louder stadium than Coors when the Rox are winning. I have also never been to a quieter stadium every other year. I have been to a lot of stadiums, but spent hundreds of days (nights) at Coors. I'm sad for the Dodgers, but I need the Rox to make it. They were my surrogate team when I spent my formative years in CO. I've been following these kids since the minors. And the Broncos look like wet hot hell.

Holliday looks like RoboCop™ with out a hat on.

The Padres would have to bat for Bell if this goes to extra innings.

Wouldn't they?

First time seeing the Padres on TV this year, and boy those uniforms are ugly. Definitely rooting for the Rockies of all the NL teams at this point. They're geographically closer, and the Padres get no points for being nicknamed the Friars, even if I was a Friar in high school. I've just always disliked the Padres.

IBB to force Corpas out of the game? Strange idea, I know.....

What's the comment record for Bad Altitude?

297 I'd guess it's around 40.

Koshansky needs to do his best Seth Smith impression.

297

I think we nuked the record, Daniel.

No shansky to catch up to that heat.

Huh.
Yeah, I still have trouble with this NL pinch hitting for the pitcher thing. Confusing.

While Seth Smith's .625 BA is rare, Joe Koshansky's .083 BA is not.

Clint Hurdle's lifting Atkins for a pr in the 7th really takes the heart out of the middle of that lineup.

Whose turn now for the Rockies on the mound?

Jorge Julio?

If it's up to DHL, Kenny Lofton will never see his stuff. Sorry, Kenny.

So, is this now officially the longest season ever??? I mean, now that we're at 162 games plus ten innings?

Hurdle has burned through a lot of players in nine innings. Black has not.

you gotta give props to Josh Bell he trully looked unhittable in his outing.

It's a battle of former Dodgers, who are not quite beloved.

307 1962 went to 165 games (3 gm playoff between LA and SF).

307 Before divisions, playoffs were best out of 3. In 1962, the Dodgers and Giants played 165 games.

307
The 1962 season went 165 games.

It would be appropriate if Clint Hurdle's dumb moves cost the Rockies.

305 Time to go to a starter? The Rockies' good 'pen pitchers are almost gone. If they don't win it soon . . .

308 That might be the difference in the game.

307
Dodger fans reflexively react to the year 1962 even if we weren't born then.

nice catch! /sarcasm

Oh yeah, 1962, I totally forgot.

you gotta wonder what Holliday is thinking out there in LF knowing he's the reason there playing extra innings, wow.

310 Herges was my favorite Dodger in 2000....

Is Black going to use Hoffman in a tie game on the road? He tends not to.

from what I understand, there was this year called 1962... not sure where I heard about it.

Terrmel Sledge is still playing baseball? Why?

316 October 1963 made life worth living again (at least in baseball, and before November 22).

Bob, why did they play 3 extra games that year?

319 He's also a big reason they made it to game 163, so he shouldn't feel too bad.

315
A starter?

The Rockies still have Dan Serafini and Denny Bautista to use.

Unless Yahoo's box score is lying (like it did when Seattle was "on the road" vs Cleveland), NONE of the Rockies' relievers threw many pitches. Was Hurdle that desperate to play Tony LaRussa mix-and-match?

307 And some of us were, he said bitterly.

Stan Williams, pffft.

321 Hmmm. It might be different now: no tomorrow to save him for, so to speak.

ooh, Mike Cameron pulling the emotional Willis Reed

325
The NL tiebreakers were 2 out of 3 until they went to 2 divisions.

The only AL tiebreaker before 2 divisions was a one-game affair.

Termel Sledge is a fellow Angelino I think.

321 Depends if the Rockies' expanded rosters include Dave Winfield, Jr., Steve Garvey, Jr., or Randy Jones, Jr. (or I suppose, Jackie Robinson, Jr.).

oops, my 329 referred to Bob's 316 .

327 And Ramon Ortiz!

336 That is not a good thing! It seems neither Ortiz nor Dessens has pitched in a few weeks though, so maybe Hurdle won't possibly be tempted to use them.

I don't think "Chuck" is going to be recorded this evening by my DVR.

Herges family owns a pub in Chicago if I remember correctly.

That was a strike.

Franklin Morales for Giles? Is Morales warming up?

For those watching/listening - have any of the various announcers mentioned that, on the road, the Pads are like 3rd in the NL in runs?

339 You saying Hollandsworth's sister was drunk when she "fell" for Matt? :)

Destiny is calling Rox, come on!

I thought for sure Herges would get burned there. Can't believe they had to rely on him in the 10th.

345 If they (the Rockies) don't win now, its only going to get worse.

338 FWIW, they replayed the pilot on SciFi last night, so that's an option.

Saving Hoffman for a save opportunity that may never come...

No Hoffman.

345

that's what I was thinking too but he did a good job.

Sure looks like a 50.65% game to me. :)
vr, Xei

Hm, high concentration of pinstripers among the discussants here tonight I see!

347 watching last night is an option tonight? What kind of magic DVR do you have?

Isn't this one of those almost all pitchers available situations? Morales has had 3 days rest and Francis 2. At some point, these are the guys Hurdle has to go to. Adrian Gonzalez hasn't seen a lefty yet, and Hurdle has used two!

Who do the Pads have to pinch-hit? Would Cameron be able to hit?

To the Yankees fans around: see, Torre isn't the only one to not use his closer in tie games on the road.

348 8-9-1 in the order for the Rockies. If Hoffman doesn't pitch next inning against Tulo-Holliday-Helton, that will be cause for discussion.

I wonder if the Rockies have a winning song they play at home when they win.

If the game continues after 9 PM (PST), it's a tough call.... watch some Heroes, or watch Hiro Nakamura and company.....

358 "Rocky Mountain Way" ;)

351

your machine if pretty accurate XeiFrank, wow!

342 "like 3rd" = 4th, but your point still stands. Of course, the Padres benefit because none of their road games are at the most extreme pitchers' park in the majors (Petco), while other teams do in fact have road games at Petco.

However, they are a legit 4th. They scored 410 runs on the road (behind Phi/NY/Atl), and the 5th place team was 28 runs behind (Colorado, 382).

352 Gotta keep these Dodger fans in their place. ;) (Just kidding - I have no beef with the Dodgers, all the 'rivalry' stuff happened before I cared a darn about baseball. Besides, you guys gave us Steve Sax, my favorite Yanks once upon a time.)

356 Yes, but there's a question as to whether Hoffman is the Pads' best reliever, making his non-use not as big a deal. Clearly Rivera is the Yanks' best reliever, so his non-use is a huge deal.

353 Ah, I wasn't clear. What I meant to say that the SciFi channel may be an option to DVR "Chuck." Mr. Stephen would have to check his listings to see when they'd be broadcasting it.

Gonzalez is batting 3rd when the Pads come up to bat, that can't be good.

362 Thank you for correcting me; didn't have time to look it up. I really wondered if any of the announcers would bother to know that fact, or if they all just ignore the extreme park factors at Petco and say that the Pads' offense is bad. Which it is not, as you point out.

OK, I find out who's in for the Rockies, then I go to bed.

364 I got it, Raf. Thanks for the tip!

mlb.tv ad: picture of Peavy in the windup and Holliday in a swing follow through.

Caption: who wants it?

363 ...Steve Sax, my favorite Yanks once upon a time...

Did you sit behind first and get a lot of souvenirs?

364 oh, jeez. duh. I'm gonna check that out, too...It's on USA on Saturday at 11 AM.

I'd still rather have a magic TiVo

338 I have just told my TiFaux to cancel tonight's episode of Chuck and record the repeat airing Sunday on Bravo, if that helps you any.

woah! Herges for another inning? I think Hurdle is pressing his luck.

man, Chuck is all over the place. Thank God for gigantic media conglomerates.

366 It would be nice if park factors were mentioned or factored in more often in broadcasts, other than just looking at the total HR or average, etc at a certain park without relating it to the road games to get an accurate feel.

Atkins would have made that play.

I'll double-chuck for Universal HD as well.

maybe, but Atkins has worked his way up to "adequate" this year. He's not exactly a defensive stopper.Still- that was a bad play.

Def. replacement with a throwing error. Irony.

Hoffman is warming up!

I know that's the go-head run on first, but bunting your #3 hitter, know that #4 will then get walked?

377 I was just being flippant and second-guessy. The big blow from that double switch was having Carroll bat in the 9th (as pointed out in 211 ), rather than defense.

D's community seems to rally around Colorado. Wasn't there a book "A New England Dodger in King Barry's Court"?
Or something like that.

Does Kahlil Greene have a nickname? I thought I saw somebody in the dugout say "Come on, Bob!"

Herges certainly takes his time.

know = knowing

381 I figured. I just hate Atkins. A lot.

Awesome.

Man, Herges is a warrior, nice going.

Does "The Office" hold some kind of record for earliest to syndication?

Huge DP.

Gotta hand it to Khalil Greene. It's not everyday a hitter can post a 100 OPS+ with a .293 OBP.

*Tonight's 1 for 6 lowered Greene's OBP to .292.

I wish I had been able to be in front of the TV for this game. Been ducking in and out - but it's just fantastic.

382 I think it is the "enemy of my enemy" phenomenon.

I think Black made a mistake. Have to let your #3 and #4 get a chance to come through there, not sacrifice one and have the other IBB.

I'm gonna go ahead and call this the most exciting game of the season.

Brocail or broke knee?

393 I want the Rockies to win, too.

389 I doubt it. It used to be a hundred episodes as the magic number for syndication, but about 10 years ago, USA bought several failed sitcoms that lasted 1-3 years and played them incessantly at around 2PM Eastern time. I swear, I saw every episode of Boston Common a dozen times because there were only 40 or so episodes.

Come on, Matt. Hit one out.

389 further, there are several shows that have "syndication" deals that are basically second run deals. NBC shows on USA and Family Guy on Adult Swim come to mind.

398
I did too and I liked "Working" I must say.

I guess I was referring to shows that were still ongoing, while in syndication.

Holliday did nothing but swing for the fences.

393 Thats it for sure. Thanks.

398

wasn't "wkrp in cincinnati" one of those shows, I might be wrong but something tells me I'm not.

Giving up Atkins reallllllly hurts now.

The Carroll-for-Atkins substitution continues to haunt Hurdle.

Without Atkins on deck, Brocail pitches Helton "carefully".

401 Is The Office considered true syndication? It looks like it's only on Tuesdays, not like the 5 days a week that is usually seen as syndication.

Would irony be a defensive replacement making an error and then getting a game-winning hit?

The Carroll-for-Atkins substitution continues to haunt Hurdle.

404 Maybe the new one, definitely not the original. The original WKRP was barely seen in syndication, because of the music rights.

406 Watch, this punch-and-judy hitter will hit a walkoff double and it will be "in our face".

404
Not on USA. They had Wings, Boston Common, Working, Major Dad, Just the Ten of Us, etc.

410 on second thought.

Or not!

Troy Tulowitzki has a pompadour that would make Vince McMahon proud.

Carrol hits one through the looking glass!

Would it be too much to ask for Thatcher to enter to "Tom Sawyer" by Rush?

409 Maybe irony enough just to single and get Hawpe up. Does Black have a LOOGY ready?

I was watching Helton (celebrating) when they tide for the wild card, man, I swear he's got dorky legs of something cause he looked pretty clumsy.

417 I liked my Carroll reference better, but that was funny.

418 OF SALESMEN!

Hawpe! Hawpe! Hawpe!

Okay, I'd like to see a base hit to center and have Mike Cameron make a throw with his injured hand.

416 My God! Tha... That's Joe Thatcher's music!

417 Curioser and curioser.

413 Oh man, during college, I engaged in much silliness to that lineup. I swear, no matter how much I like Monk, Tony Shaloub will always be a cab driver to me.

420 "Dorky Legs" is a better nickname than "Crazy Eyes".

427
This is the stuff I watched since Elementary school every summer break.

Can the Prime Minister keep it scoreless?

How far has Morgan Ensberg fallen that he's reduced to being involved in a double switch in the 11th inning of a do or die game...

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

431 not as far as when he was DFA'd

431 I would consider it a sweet opportunity to make a name for myself...

426 Now he just needs to run as fast as he can, just to stay in the same place...

430 How ironic is it that Thatcher is a lefty??

429 sigh. You are younger than me. And the Broncos are tied with the Raiders. Double sigh

437
You are lucky to be tied!

I like how the winner of this game gets the least amount of rest possible, playing the early game Wednesday in Philly.

says the team featuring the coach who copied us!

Did Clint Hurdle fall asleep?

Barmes, Quintanilla and rookies left on the Rockies bench? Who hits for Herges leading off the next inning?

in the back of my head I'm thinking I don't like Herges for a 3rd inning, hopefully he proves me wrong yet again.

437 Everyone knows Shanahan didn't get the time out called in time, and that the Raiders are 3-1! :)

440
We also adapted your dirty form of cut blocking.

It works real well.

443 Matt Herges translates to Spanish as "Rudy Seanez."

I think Clint Hurdle placed a bet on the Padres.

436 How ironic is it that Thatcher's a lefty? It really depends on how his arm angle may have resulted in a situation that produced the batter to not make contact with the ball

Brian Myrow!

442

Oh, I see.443

448 Lefty, as in politics. Margaret Thatcher = conservative, or righty.

446 Herges has an 0.985 WHIP this season! (before tonight)

This game is a Dodgers Alumni game...

444 If you like, anyone is free to come to my house and watch the replay. I've still got it. The whistles are clear. We watch it daily, although it's getting dropped for the Colorado/ Oklahoma game, which is way more fun to watch (3 times so far). Ugh, I'm gonna be in the Bay area in 2 weeks, and I'm gonna get it from my friends.

445 You should- it works, and it hurts people. That's what you need when you have no talent on the line.

448 Uh.

One of us doesn't get it. But I have no idea which of us.

454
Are you going to be here for Oktoberfest?

wow. Herges= clutch. who woulda thunk?

Big K.

Matt Herges for President!

436 At least this Thatcher doesn't labour.

456 when's that? I'll be there over 10/13 weekend.

461
The 11th-14th.

ooooh, well then yes I will.

460 I'd like to see him pitch to Torii Hunter.

454 I don't really dispute the validity of the timeout. I was just yanking your chain. I was amazed that Janikowski was able to hit the top of the upright from what, 54 yards out? What a leg. Too bad it's not more accurate!

464 Nice.

464 A majority of his WHIP comes from facing Torii.

459

if he gets out of this one, He'd make a great governor

460 Is San Diego better off wearing Brown? Am I perhaps taking my Jim Tracy impersonation a bit too far? Perhaps, but arm angles and Myrow have special significance for this Dodger fan...

It so happens my group of friends are going there on the 13th.

So if things go right, I should totally forget that day.

Man, Tuloeski (sp) has a SICK glove.

A Yorvit walk off hit to reward Herges's hurculean effort?

471 Two-low-wit-ski

Helton pulls his foot off the bag way to quickly. That's going to bite him in the ass.

467 (WHIP = WHIG?)

Very impressive performance from Herges.

469 Ohhhhhh. Excellent!

the Rockies infield looks very respectable I don't know how there outfield looked all year but I'm really digging there infield.

471 I nominate "Tuloeski" as the official spelling of the Colorado SS.

It has a Paul Mokeski feel to it.

Tied, eh? Did I miss anything?

470 I've got to go to a wedding reception that evening, but I'd love to hang out, at least for lunch. Let's get us, Icaros, Underdog, and whoever else. Especially Underdog- because he's a Bronco fan. If not- whatever.

475 I was kind of going for that, but settled on an American political reference instead.

And the season comes down to a bunch of AAA hitters. That's kind of sad, actually.

Christ almighty someone end this. If I have to hear "An Un-Jake Peavy-like outing" one more time I'll scream

Bob T, is probably taking one of his famous naps right now I bet...

My brother is on the phone.

482 Who will be playing the role of Chris Burke tonight?

"Un-Jake-Peavy-like" is a word you don't get to use in a lot of other contexts, so you really do want to get as much mileage out of it as possible here.

I'm going to die watching this game.

I think I'm a Phillies fan right now about this game....

Longest tiebreaker game ever in terms of innings now.

Wow.

So, if this one ends in a tie, do they play another?

480
As long as I am not drinking all day.

488

Hhahah, uh man... ah.

485 That is neither a confirm nor a deny. Although your typing likely is.

The relief pitching on both sides has been pretty damn good tonight.

490 Not in terms of time... yet?

there's something very uneasy about a 4.94 ERA.

Julio

Get him out right now!

Pull him mid batter.

Nothing like a reliever coming in and throwing balls.

Hurdle doesn't bounce a baseball when he's nervous these days, I wonder if he's seeing a shrink for that.

Scott Hairston strikes again.

499 And of course the next pitch is a home run.

wow... Julio still sucks, I see

This is going to really suck if the Rockies don't make it after the run they made at the end of the season.

Oh boy.

I hope I can stay up for this one.

But I feel a Bellachik--Purcells thing coming on this winter Oh dear 8-6.

Torrealbe pretty much went out there & told him to throw a meet ball.

497 His Colorado numbers are ok, though; you get to throw out the terrible numbers he put up in Florida.

Still, Giles, Hairston, PH, Gonzalez - I'm looking for a lefty (Morales?, Francis?) here.

One hope for Rockies fans. Hoffman in an important game is...

What's the opposite of money?

Uh, well, while I was typing....

Lucky for Julio, his bags are packed and he has a plane ticket for Philadelphia. Maybe Clint should join him.

Just in time to see the home run, looks like I've missed a pretty good game.

506 - I'm thinking the best finish would be Hoffman blowing a save.

Chase Heady hitting.....

Sure NOW he throws strikes.

Why is Jorge Julio still in the game?

that shot of the Rockies fan said it all.

511 Hoffman in an important game is a primitive barter system.

514 ... with Helton hitting it out.

517 This game or the game of baseball?

Hairston with the Padres: .287/.337/.644, 8 HR in 95 PA.

and Chase Hedy singles.

I remember opening day a few years ago, Clint Barmes hit a walk off against Hoffman at Coors.

who else could they have used? seriously, you really can't blame Hurdle on this one right?

we is the chick on the wheel chair when you need her...

Ramon Ortiz is still in baseball?

Why is bringing in Ramon Ortiz to face Adrian Gonzalez a good idea?

521 I like the unintentional ambiguity of the question. Thanks for pointing that out.

Ortiz looks like a midget out there. I don't remember him being that small.

528

well, he struck him out.

525 Is Morales unavailable?

530

Seriously [chuckling as I type that]

Amazingly, they could have brought in Ortiz to start with and still had a tie game?

Opponents hitting over .300 against Ortiz this year.

530 Ortiz has been pounded to his present size.

Will Ian Stewart pinch hit for Jamey Carroll? Will it get that far (due up 5th)?

Looking at Hariston's tater on the replay, the pitch looked laser straight.

Hoffman-LaRoche? I think I had stock once.

532 Silly question. Hurdle's saving Morales for the playoffs!

Jake Peavy Like.

well here goes nothing

483 They said it again! Almost.

A couple innings ago I was going to mention that the best thing for the Rockies might be to give up some runs and have Hoffman come in. Should have mentioned that before someone else.

coachjpark are you the fan that threw out a pitch from Dodger Stadium, maybe I'm confusing you.

Well that's a good start for the Rocks.

Hoffman can't throw strikes, he's just not the same Hoffman anymore I guess.

FWIW: Barrett is catching. The Cubs pitchers HATED pitching to him. Just a thought...

woah, look at the fighting Rox!

Come on Matt!!!

So who will be the Hero?

wow.

well, well, well.

Hoffman is looking Mariano Rivera-like

HEROES!!!!

wow tie game!

W
O
W

547 This is big game Hoffman. This is 1998 World Series Hoffman. This is Allstar Game Hoffman.

548 I think this has nothing to do with Barrett and everything to do with Hoffman.

What a game!

554 That was uncalled for.

I'm really glad Holliday hit that triple, I really felt bad for him when he made that error.

Trevor meet Tom.
Tom meet Trevor.

Padres needed Jason Repko in right field...

wow wow wow wow!

WOW.

runner on 3rd, no one out...

Helton would have been poetic justice.

Good thing this storm in SL hasn't hit Denver yet. Very windy and rainy.

561

ok ok .... you are right

Told you guys about Hoffman.

three outs to simply put the ball in play

un-freakin'-believable

this is incredible. Congrats Rockies fans (dodger fan)

IBB Helton, pitch to Carroll hoping for a cheap out, IBB Hawpe to get to PH with one out?

5 man infield?

let's have a squeeze bunt to win it!

This will go down as a classic.

the announcers are saying Holliday got the batting average title & the RBI title as well, man, that's as close as you can get to the triple crown.

Now Helton just needs to hit 15 homers to win the triple crown.

561 Way to defend our guy Matt :)!

Just flipped to it, wow, one hell of a game!

Bud looks pissed.

579 And by Helton I mean Holliday. It's late.

WINNAR!!!!!

Congratulations Colorado Rockies.

Poetic just for Holliday yes yes yes!!!

Uh Oh.

wow

Oh no! Matt!

Well that was insane.

wow, for a minute there, I thought Holliday was out

its sid bream all over again ....

This is crazy end to a like wise game.

I think Holliday is hurt...

I love baseball.

Holy crapolee!

"Hoffman faced 4 batters in 13th."

590 I thought saw until I saw the ball come out.

Ain't that a gas! I was almost asleep. hope X-mas is OK.

WOW what an ending!!! Gonna be a TERRIFIC series coming up in Phila!

did he touch home?

Umpire took his time to make the safe call. I thought he missed the plate.

597 so*

Sorry, that should be "winning run scored with one out."

That was an amazing game. What a finish. Is Holliday dead? I think he just sealed up MVP.

600 Replay doesn't look like it!

he missed it

looking at the replay, Holliday needs to take some sliding courses...

And this is why I'll say it I turn blue. I don't care how many saves he compiles. Trevor Hoffman, in a big game situation, is horrid. He's not a Hall of Famer.

NO TAG!!!!!!!

for the record, there is no play that annoys me more than the head first slide into home plate.

Let the controversy begin.

Um, he never touched home. Well, that makes up for the Atkins not-homer.

we need to see the other angle

HE NEVER TOUCHED THE PLATE!

Craig Sager with his NBA wardrobe.

The enemy of your enemy!!
Oh Yeah!

Glad we didn't go through this call, however.

gack ...... what a loud suit!

Oops...bad call.

Out on the tag behind the plate.

Bad call, but a great game.

I think he did touch home -- it was hard to see on the camera, but his hand was under the foot of the catcher and I believe on the plate.

617 That's his style.

Shades of Bernie Carbo and Elrod Hendricks.

nope, he never touched home. it wasn't even close. what a terrible call. i have nothing vested in either team - playoffs should just NOT be determined in such an egregious fashion. boo on the blue...

I think Troy should have been "Player of the Game."

620

I think you may be right about the hand We need to see the other angle

623 Its evened out by the botched HR call.

so, two of the newest franchises play two of the oldest franchises in the National League playoffs. Phillies (1883) vs Rockies (1993) and Cubs (1871) vs D'Backs (1998).

609 Meant no tag of home plate....

Come on Rockies vs DBacks NLCS.

will jorge julio be on the division series roster?

Jorge Julio is wandering around not celebrating.

how cute, there doing a group hug or dance of some kind.

And it's already up on the Griddle!

That was the best game I have seen in a while.

626 ah, thanks matt! i didn't get to turn the game on until extra innings, so i didn't see the earlier mis-call.

626

that's the way I see it...

608 Not an assessment I'd make after a handful of "big game" innings.

Very excited for the last fish . . .

Matt Holliday is 6'4" 235; shouldn't he be running over catchers, not head-first sliding?

My wife made a great point -- his hand was underneath the catcher's foot, and you can see the catcher's foot slide across the plate while his hand is underneath it.

Ultimately, there is no clear evidence to overturn the play, which would be the rule if there was instant replay. The ump had the best view and was able to see if his hand went across the plate. His hesitation was to see if the catcher had dropped the ball.

Way to go Rockies!

I'm kind of jealous, the Dodgers didn't do it this year looking at all the festivities from the Rox.

Ump blew it. Looked like he had the angle, too. Only a season in the balance on that call. That's tough...

[I love TIVO, and I love my wife.]

Nice job Rockies! Great seeing the Padres denied. :-) Looked to me like he got his hand in under the foot.... Loved how ex-Dodger secret agents Milton Bradley, then Brady Clark, helped torpedo the Padres season.

643
So, you love TIVO more.

640

I agree with your wife ..... and I think that's the ONLY way he would have been called safe.

Wow. A knife to the heart of the Padre faithful. I couldn't have asked for better.

Congratulations, Rox.

640

Yea, none of the angles show us the hand coming by the plate, so it is hard to see. It does look like the Ump hesitated to see where the ball was, and once he saw it being picked up, he made the most lazy safe call to end a game I have ever seen

637 I think, especially with the modern save rule, a reliever has to go the extra mile to be considered among the elite of baseball.

so the actual playoffs start tomorrow? that doesn't sound good for the Rockies.

The playoffs start Wednesday. It's tomorrow for some people.

Rocks win, but I am the bridesmaid for the Griddle contest.

anyone know if Holliday is ok?

So what is the ground rule at Coors? If it hits the yellow it's in play?

In General--if the catcher doesn't catch or control the throw, it is almost like the phantom DP. FWIW

639

I think if Holliday does that, somebodies head would of rolled...

648 Well, he's consistent; he's been making lazy calls all evening.

Man, tomorrow... er... today... er... Tuesday... is gonna be the longest day of the year. Where has the baseball gone?

Holliday is fine.

Thats one hell of a jacket

648 He made a split-second decision to give the benefit of the doubt to the Rockies, realizing that there would be an angry mob of 50,000 + who would have been slightly miffed had he not called what he did.....

Holliday has a cherry on his chin...

653 The announcers said he hit his mouth on the ground. I was afraid he injured his hand.

Calls should be made with strength and authority. A lazy call is like a dead fish handshake. Yecch.

Calls should be made with strength and authority. A lazy call is like a dead fish handshake. Yecch.

It does look like he might have caught part of the plate, but the two angles they keep showing do not provide any new insight.

666 So, therefore, the call has to stand, according to NFL rules.

Pedro Gomez must be so happy because he's not covering Barry right now.

NL playoffs: Phillies, Rockies, D-Backs, Cubs - three good storylines and a curse. That's not too bad.

649 Looking at his numbers, he's only had a couple of bad postseasons; the 96 NLDS and the 98 WS. He's had 13 innings in the postseason. He's had 5 1/3 innings in the ASG.

I don't think that's enough to make an assessment on "the extra mile."

One of the angles seemed to indicate Holliday's hand hit Barrett's shoe, shoved it back and in doing that he was able to brush the plate with his hand. Not all of that's clear, but the fact that Barrett's foot moved with Holliday's hand in front of it was clear.

Combined with Barrett's failure to ever tag Holliday, I think the call was correct, if poorly expressed.

Boy did Hurdle and Julio catch a break! I can't believe the Rockies pulled it off.

669 And last year, it was Padres, Dodgers, Cardinals, Mets. A four-team turnover. I root for the Dodgers, but since they couldn't make it, this is good stuff.

661 I think it was a good call. Holliday's left hand slid under Barret's foot. His momentum pushed Barret's foot, with his hand underneath, across the corner of the plate as Barret lost the ball.

Games like this are why I love baseball.

Congrats Rocks.

Congrats, especially to Mark, for hosting this much-bypassed corner of the web. Hope you are celebrating in the streets of Denver right now.

Really really great game. I knew the Padres were prematurely happy. That top four of the Colorado lineup (five when Atkins is part of it) is enviable. Rox v. Phils should be a blast for those who like to see balls flying.

Happy Rocktoberfest.

670 He also singleghandedly cost his team the playoffs this year.

But fine. I'll disregard his big game performances. He hasn't done anything good, bad or indifferent in big games.

I still leave him off my figurative ballot. He's there with the Lee Smiths and John Francos and Billy Wagners of the world. He's a modern relief pitcher who got a lot of saves in an era when a lot of people got a lot of saves. Thats not enough for me to put a non starter in the Hall of Fame.

677 - Yeah not a bad game to ring in October with.

Weird that it was actually a regular season game. Holliday and Tulowitzki may very well have locked up MVP and ROY with this game tonight.

674 A lot of people beat me to that.

Man, the Rockies are making it hard for me -- they're the closest team to me geographically, they are underdogs, and they have an exciting team. I'm happy to root for them in the NL since the Dodgers are out of it.

678 Not that I disagree that the jury has gotta be out on Hoffman in big games...

...but on September 18, 2006, the Dodgers and Padres played a big game, and any Dodger fan will be happy to tell you what happened.

Congrats Mark, from all your friends at sonsofstevegarvey.com. Big win tonight, controversy or no controversy--I'll be pulling for the Rockies vs. the Phils!

682 Bringing up the 4+1 game (or the "Marlon Anderson Game" to some) makes me wonder how this game will be referred to in the annals of baseball history.

I vote for the "Matt Holiday Face Plant Game."

Anyone know of a site with an extreme closeup or freeze frame of the Holliday slide?

684 Perhaps just the "Matt Holliday Game." After all, if he makes the routine play in the 8th, they don't go to extras. The triple and the face plant were his atonement.

684 Holliday Inn (at the plate). Maybe a White Christmas will come early to Denver.

We've already had snow in Salt Lake, in fact it snowed during the Utah game Saturday, with more expected Friday, so I'm guessing Denver will do fine with the white stuff too.

Awesome. Simply awesome

That was an awesome game. I watched the last parts of it on tape delay just a little while ago after leaving mid-way. Watching the last play over and over again like conspiracy theorists watch the Zapruder film, I can honestly say he appears to never have touched the plate. BUT I will say, because it was so bang-bang and the catcher dropped the ball, I can understand why the ump may have had a tough time calling that one. That and, as others have said here, the fact that Atkins ball earlier should have been ruled a home run makes it a karmically correct result in my opinion, at any rate.

Now I wonder if the Rockies will have anything left in the tank for the Phillies series, especially with pitching, but that should be a great one.

Unfrackinbelievable.

I still need to watch the replays.

Underdog owns the record for Zapruder film references.

692 So is that left field wall with the yellow line like the grassy knoll?

What a game.

http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/002568.html

692 I'm going for three before the week's out. If one of those references falls on Inside the Dodgers and no one's there to hear it, does it make a sound?

Has anyone found a still freeze frame of the final tag yet for our forensics team?

Dodger fan here wishing you all luck in the playoffs. Congrats. That was an amazing season ending run and a great game to finish it off. Here's wishing 3 quick wins against Philadelphia to give your team a needed rest.

684 & 686 Well, let's see. Denver already has The Drive and The Fumble ... so how about The Slide?

Hmmm ... and in that context, a Rox-Indians WS would be interesting. Calling John Elway ...

696 Don't you think calling that a "slide" is a bit generous?

Mark: Congratulations from Will in Chicago. Un-bee-lievable win for you guys (700+ posts by the end of the day, too).

He looked just like a Hoffman. Yes he did. He faked just like a Hoffman. Yes he did. But he ached un-like a Hoffman. And he broke just like a little girl.

687 Congratulations on predicting the L.A. Times headline.

Can't let a thread like this end on 699. 700!! Nice job Rox

697 No, I don't think calling it a "slide" is a bit generous. I think it is way over-generous. But The Drive and The Fumble have such a classy ring to them that to call last night's play The Belly Flop, The Facial, or the like just doesn't work. Maybe The Prestige for at least creating the illusion (w/o judging whether he did or did not) that his pinkie touched the plate.